'''Viseu'''[http://www.cm-viseu.pt/], is a charming small hilltop city and district capital (around 50,000 inhabitants) in central [[Portugal]]. It is in Beira Alta situated between the mountain ranges of the Serra da Estrella and Serra do Caramulo, about halfway between [[Aveiro]] and [[Guarda]] off the new A25 Motorway. It is situated in the famous Dao wine region.

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'''Viseu'''[http://www.cm-viseu.pt/], is a charming hilltop city and district capital (around 50,000 inhabitants) in central [[Portugal]]. It is in the Beira Alta situated between the mountain ranges of the Serra da Estrella and Serra do Caramulo, about halfway between [[Aveiro]] and [[Guarda]] off the new A25 Motorway. It is situated in the famous Dao wine region.

The city is a regional center for education and has many schools, 2 universities (The Catholic University and the Piaget Institute) and a modern polytechnic. There is no heavy industry.

The city is a regional center for education and has many schools, 2 universities (The Catholic University and the Piaget Institute) and a modern polytechnic. There is no heavy industry.

==Get in=

==Get in=

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Viseu has excellent motorway links with other majopr cities, the Portuguese coast and Spain and is centrally situated on the crossing of the A25 (east/west) and A24/IP3 (north/south) motorways. There is an outer ringroad consisting of part A 25 and IP5.

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Viseu has excellent motorway links with other major cities, the coast and Spain and is centrally situated on the crossing of the A25 (east/west) and A24/IP3 (north/south) motorways. There is an outer ringroad consisting of part A 25 and IP5.

Porto airport is the nearest international airport and is about 1 3/4 hours away by car.

Porto airport is the nearest international airport and is about 1 3/4 hours away by car.

Line 12:

Line 12:

There are also frequent long distance coach services operated by Rede/Expressos to other major cities.

There are also frequent long distance coach services operated by Rede/Expressos to other major cities.

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There is no train service. The closest railway stations are in Nelas or Mangualde, both on the Linha da Beira Alta.

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There is no train service. The closest railway stations are in Nelas or Mangualde, both on the Linha da Beira Alta. This makes Viseu the largest city on the Iberian peninsula without a railway station.

*Cava de Viriato. Remains of an very large Lusitanian-Roman camp surrounded by an pentagonal earthen wall.

*Cava de Viriato. Remains of an very large Lusitanian-Roman camp surrounded by an pentagonal earthen wall.

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Old Market on Rua Formosa

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*Old Market on Rua Formosa

==Do==

==Do==

Revision as of 20:08, 10 July 2008

Viseu[2], is a charming hilltop city and district capital (around 50,000 inhabitants) in central Portugal. It is in the Beira Alta situated between the mountain ranges of the Serra da Estrella and Serra do Caramulo, about halfway between Aveiro and Guarda off the new A25 Motorway. It is situated in the famous Dao wine region.

The city is a regional center for education and has many schools, 2 universities (The Catholic University and the Piaget Institute) and a modern polytechnic. There is no heavy industry.

Contents

=Get in

Viseu has excellent motorway links with other major cities, the coast and Spain and is centrally situated on the crossing of the A25 (east/west) and A24/IP3 (north/south) motorways. There is an outer ringroad consisting of part A 25 and IP5.

Porto airport is the nearest international airport and is about 1 3/4 hours away by car.

Viseu has its own municipal airport for light private aircraft.

There are also frequent long distance coach services operated by Rede/Expressos to other major cities.

There is no train service. The closest railway stations are in Nelas or Mangualde, both on the Linha da Beira Alta. This makes Viseu the largest city on the Iberian peninsula without a railway station.

Get around

By car: Sign-posting for the centre of town is good. There is an inner ring road with many roundabouts which give access to the inner city at very frequent intervals.

See

The well kept, clean and prosperous city has a fine historic quarter (Centro Historico) with cobbled streets and hidden alleys, numerous Renaissance and Baroque mansions and palaces as well as a number of city gates like the 15th century Porta do Soar de Cima. The crowning glory is the Romanesque and Gothic Se (Cathedral), one of the finest in Portugal, situated on the Adro da Se, an impressive square which is also the location of the striking Misericordia Church with its wide Rococo facade. Since it is the highest point in town, the square also provides extensive views to the surrounding countryside.

However, modern architecture is evident too. The Forum shopping- food- and cinema center bordering the river Pavia is a good example as is the enormous Palacio do Gelo shopping & restaurant mall with all year indoor ice rink and other sports facilities on the ring road. Also of note is the converted Old Market on the Rua Formosa with cafe's and boutiques. Now a venue for exhibitions and open air concerts. The city has ample facilities like 3 municipal free internet facilities, a modern public library and a new large district hospital.

Buy

Eat

Try the traditional pastry of the region, the Viriato, for sale in good pastelarias.

Drink

The excellent local Dao wines from the co-operatives like UDACA (Union of the Dao co-operatives) and private wineries such as: Casa de Santar, Quinta da Fata, Quinta de Cabriz, Casa de Insua, Duque de Viseu, Grao Vasco and many more.

Sleep

There are many hotels in Viseu ranging from 1 to 5 stars. A new Pousada de Portugal (the converted old hospital) will open in 2010. All have their own websites and may be booked directly or via various on-line booking agencies.
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